COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Slow start hurts Nicholls women in loss at SLC tourney

Published: Friday, March 15, 2013 at 7:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 15, 2013 at 7:09 a.m.

KATY, Texas — Nicholls State learned the old sports adage is true. It is hard to beat a good team three times in a season.

McNeese State jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never trailed in taking a double-digit advantage at halftime. The Colonels tried to rally in the second half, but poor defense and a 6-minute scoring drought quelled any momentum Nicholls tried to generate.

With McNeese making 53 percent of its shots and Ashlyn Baggett pouring in 25 points, the Cowgirls defeated Nicholls 86-70 in Thursday’s second-round game at the 2013 Southland Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Leonard E. Merrell Center.

McNeese, the fifth seed, will play Oral Roberts, the No. 1 seed, in a semifinal game today. Nicholls, the fourth seed, ends its season with a 19-11 overall record.

Nicholls swept McNeese during the regular season winning, 78-61, in Lake Charles and 65-59 in the season finale at Stopher Gym in Thibodaux.

Nicholls coach DoBee Plaisance said McNeese came out aggressive from the start and her team matched that aggression at times, but it was spotty at best.

“First of all, credit goes to McNeese State and in the two previous games and after this one, it has certainly been an interesting series. They had a super aggressive game plan, and we countered at times, and there were stretches in the game where we gave ourselves opportunity for momentum, but we didn’t capitalize or sustain runs,” Plaisance said. “Much success goes to McNeese, but out players battled, we just didn’t sustain the runs. In the second half, we just couldn’t get it past that eight-point mark. If we could’ve gotten past that we felt we could do something, but it never happened. I am proud of my ladies, and the effort they had in this game and throughout the season. We had to overcome a lot this season, and we kept coming back, and that is why it is so special at Nicholls and working with these ladies. There was no quit in their tank, and I am proud of them.”

Nicholls missed its first seven shots of the game and didn’t make a field goal until the 15:52 mark when KK Babin scored to make it 4-3.

While Nicholls never led, the Colonels did tie the game four times in the first half with the final time coming at 19 after Emani White (18 points) scored at the 9:23 mark.

A 6-0 run gave the Cowgirls a 25-19 lead, but McNeese (18-13) took control of the game during a 4-minute stretch when Nicholls went cold from the floor.

After Nicholls made the score 31-25 with a basket from Jasmine Scott (10 points) at the 5:18 mark, the Colonels would not score again until Babin (16 points, 5 assists) made a 3-pointer with 51 seconds left in the first half.

While Nicholls wasn’t making shots, McNeese was finding holes in the Colonels’ defense and built a 39-25 lead before Babin made her 3-pointer for a 39-28 score, but McNeese went on to take a 42-31 halftime lead.

Even though the Colonels had a first-round bye and an extra day of rest, defensively, Nicholls looked a stepped slow as McNeese shot 46 percent, and Ashlyn Baggett scored 18 points in the first half.

Plaisance said her team wasn’t crisp in defending off screens, and that led to good looks for the Cowgirls.

“It was nothing different and nothing we didn’t expect. We were aware that they can shot the 3 from deep. We were prepared for what they were looking to do and what we shut down in the previous games,” Plaisance said. “The game plan was the same. What we were having issues with was we didn’t come off those screens cleanly. In previous games, we were much cleaner off those screens. In this game, we got caught up among ourselves at times. We would switch off screens and we would get caught up with each other. We just weren’t clean or crisp coming off those ball screens and handoffs.”

The Cowgirls took advantage of their screens to make 6-of-12 from the 3-point line in the first half and finished 8-of-15 for the game.

Colonels senior forward Alisha Allen said the communication on the switches was lacking and that made them slow getting out on the shooters.

“I would have to say we came out a little slow. We had some clustering on defense, and that was due to some poor communication, but we were still fighting throughout the game defensively,” Allen said.

Allen finished with 17 points and five rebounds.

The Colonels final push at the Cowgirls came after Hope Pawlowski scored to make it 65-57 with 9:39 remaining in the game.

Once again, Nicholls went cold and McNeese answered with on an 11-3 run for a 76-60 lead after Caitlyn Baggett (11 points, 8 assists) scored with 3:46 left.

The Cowgirls took their largest lead of the game at 86-68 with 27 seconds left.

Allen scored the final points for Nicholls making the final, 86-70.

“I thought everyone stepped up. When we rebound and defend we are extremely successful. I thought my team stepped up big and the timing was perfect. I am really proud of them and it was a great game,” McNeese coach Brooks Donald Williams said. “I thought our guards did a great job getting it to our inside people when they were cheating out on them, and we did a great job of finishing. I thought we did a great job of executing and reading their defense and finishing. As a team we played well and executed our game plan.”

Nicholls ended the game making 27-of-66 (40 percent) of its shots, while McNeese was 31-of-58. The Cowgirls won the rebounding battle, 37-31.

Along with Ashlyn and Caitlyn Baggett scoring in double figures, McNeese got a double-double from Cecilia Okoye, who had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and 16 points from Jalyn Johnson.

Also, former Terrebonne High all-state performer Alaina Verdin scored four points for the Cowgirls.

<p>KATY, Texas — Nicholls State learned the old sports adage is true. It is hard to beat a good team three times in a season.</p><p>McNeese State jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never trailed in taking a double-digit advantage at halftime. The Colonels tried to rally in the second half, but poor defense and a 6-minute scoring drought quelled any momentum Nicholls tried to generate.</p><p>With McNeese making 53 percent of its shots and Ashlyn Baggett pouring in 25 points, the Cowgirls defeated Nicholls 86-70 in Thursday's second-round game at the 2013 Southland Conference Women's Basketball Tournament at the Leonard E. Merrell Center.</p><p>McNeese, the fifth seed, will play Oral Roberts, the No. 1 seed, in a semifinal game today. Nicholls, the fourth seed, ends its season with a 19-11 overall record.</p><p>Nicholls swept McNeese during the regular season winning, 78-61, in Lake Charles and 65-59 in the season finale at Stopher Gym in Thibodaux.</p><p>Nicholls coach DoBee Plaisance said McNeese came out aggressive from the start and her team matched that aggression at times, but it was spotty at best.</p><p>“First of all, credit goes to McNeese State and in the two previous games and after this one, it has certainly been an interesting series. They had a super aggressive game plan, and we countered at times, and there were stretches in the game where we gave ourselves opportunity for momentum, but we didn't capitalize or sustain runs,” Plaisance said. “Much success goes to McNeese, but out players battled, we just didn't sustain the runs. In the second half, we just couldn't get it past that eight-point mark. If we could've gotten past that we felt we could do something, but it never happened. I am proud of my ladies, and the effort they had in this game and throughout the season. We had to overcome a lot this season, and we kept coming back, and that is why it is so special at Nicholls and working with these ladies. There was no quit in their tank, and I am proud of them.”</p><p>Nicholls missed its first seven shots of the game and didn't make a field goal until the 15:52 mark when KK Babin scored to make it 4-3.</p><p>While Nicholls never led, the Colonels did tie the game four times in the first half with the final time coming at 19 after Emani White (18 points) scored at the 9:23 mark.</p><p>A 6-0 run gave the Cowgirls a 25-19 lead, but McNeese (18-13) took control of the game during a 4-minute stretch when Nicholls went cold from the floor.</p><p>After Nicholls made the score 31-25 with a basket from Jasmine Scott (10 points) at the 5:18 mark, the Colonels would not score again until Babin (16 points, 5 assists) made a 3-pointer with 51 seconds left in the first half.</p><p>While Nicholls wasn't making shots, McNeese was finding holes in the Colonels' defense and built a 39-25 lead before Babin made her 3-pointer for a 39-28 score, but McNeese went on to take a 42-31 halftime lead.</p><p>Even though the Colonels had a first-round bye and an extra day of rest, defensively, Nicholls looked a stepped slow as McNeese shot 46 percent, and Ashlyn Baggett scored 18 points in the first half.</p><p>Plaisance said her team wasn't crisp in defending off screens, and that led to good looks for the Cowgirls.</p><p>“It was nothing different and nothing we didn't expect. We were aware that they can shot the 3 from deep. We were prepared for what they were looking to do and what we shut down in the previous games,” Plaisance said. “The game plan was the same. What we were having issues with was we didn't come off those screens cleanly. In previous games, we were much cleaner off those screens. In this game, we got caught up among ourselves at times. We would switch off screens and we would get caught up with each other. We just weren't clean or crisp coming off those ball screens and handoffs.”</p><p>The Cowgirls took advantage of their screens to make 6-of-12 from the 3-point line in the first half and finished 8-of-15 for the game.</p><p>Colonels senior forward Alisha Allen said the communication on the switches was lacking and that made them slow getting out on the shooters.</p><p>“I would have to say we came out a little slow. We had some clustering on defense, and that was due to some poor communication, but we were still fighting throughout the game defensively,” Allen said.</p><p>Allen finished with 17 points and five rebounds.</p><p>The Colonels final push at the Cowgirls came after Hope Pawlowski scored to make it 65-57 with 9:39 remaining in the game.</p><p>Once again, Nicholls went cold and McNeese answered with on an 11-3 run for a 76-60 lead after Caitlyn Baggett (11 points, 8 assists) scored with 3:46 left.</p><p>The Cowgirls took their largest lead of the game at 86-68 with 27 seconds left.</p><p>Allen scored the final points for Nicholls making the final, 86-70.</p><p>“I thought everyone stepped up. When we rebound and defend we are extremely successful. I thought my team stepped up big and the timing was perfect. I am really proud of them and it was a great game,” McNeese coach Brooks Donald Williams said. “I thought our guards did a great job getting it to our inside people when they were cheating out on them, and we did a great job of finishing. I thought we did a great job of executing and reading their defense and finishing. As a team we played well and executed our game plan.”</p><p>Nicholls ended the game making 27-of-66 (40 percent) of its shots, while McNeese was 31-of-58. The Cowgirls won the rebounding battle, 37-31.</p><p>Along with Ashlyn and Caitlyn Baggett scoring in double figures, McNeese got a double-double from Cecilia Okoye, who had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and 16 points from Jalyn Johnson. </p><p>Also, former Terrebonne High all-state performer Alaina Verdin scored four points for the Cowgirls.</p>